This small Belgian town in eastern Liège has half-timbered houses, two museums, and a central square lined with cafes. The surrounding hills make it popular for cycling and hiking.
Located 15 kilometers from the German border, Eupen is the capital of Belgium's German-speaking Community. Walk through the contemporary galleries of IKOB museum, attend mass in the gothic St. Nikolaus Church from 1283, or join locals during February's Rhenish Carnival parades. You can watch K.A.S. Eupen play professional football or explore the wooden boardwalks crossing the High Fens nature reserve's moors.
Getting to Eupen
You'll find Eupen in Belgium's East Cantons region, 15 kilometers from both Aachen, Germany and Maastricht, Netherlands. Its location at the intersection of three countries makes it a central point in the Euroregion Meuse-Rhine. While German is the official language, you'll hear French and Dutch spoken regularly throughout the city.
Art Museums and Cultural Sites
The IKOB Museum of Contemporary Art displays new exhibitions every three months across its three floors. Inside the Municipal Museum on Gospertstrasse, explore the city's industrial past through wool-making equipment and textiles that tell the story of Eupen's manufacturing history. Visit the Christian Silvain Foundation to see the artist's large-format paintings and mixed media works.
Climate and Hiking Areas
At 295 meters above sea level, Eupen's elevation brings temperatures that average 2-3 degrees cooler than coastal Belgian cities. The rising terrain creates frequent rain showers, particularly from October to January. From the city center, follow marked trails to the High Fens reserve, where 700 kilometers of paths cross peat bogs, pine forests, and open moorland.
Local Football and Festivals
Watch K.A.S. Eupen compete in Belgium's top football division at the Kehrwegstadion, where 8,000 fans create an energetic atmosphere during home games. During the Rhenish Carnival in February, join parades through the city center, watch street performances, and participate in the main Rosenmontag celebration.
City Life and Education
The Autonome Hochschule Ostbelgien trains future teachers and nurses in its modern campus facilities. As the administrative center for Belgium's German-speaking Community, Eupen houses parliament buildings and cultural institutions that coordinate services for the region's 70,000 German speakers.
